Low temperature benefits discussed

At a recent educational workshop event hosted by Advanced Sterilization Products, expert speakers including Authorising Engineers, and delegates, discussed some of their experiences of low temperature sterilisation of ‘hi-tech’ medical devices, and highlighted the benefits of a process which allows decontamination of instruments and, for example, parts of robotic surgery systems, that cannot be decontaminated using standard methods. Also examined, and reported on here in an article that first appeared in HEJ’s sister publication, The Clinical Services Journal, were some of the disadvantages of low temperature sterilisation, the key considerations and options when choosing such a system, and a focus on how the technology’s use had benefited a major London-based NHS Trust.

Interest in low temperature sterilisation methods has increased significantly in recent years, and some of the key considerations were explored at recent educational workshop attended by delegates from healthcare organisations across the UK with an interest in infection prevention and decontamination. The programme consisted of interactive sessions tackling key issues, such as: ‘Which instruments should be deemed high risk and suitable for sterilisation?’; ‘Is high level disinfection of ‘semi-critical’ instruments enough?’ and ‘What are the options available?’ 

The workshop opened with a reminder of the impact of using dirty endoscopes and other reusable instruments, coupled with group discussion focused on ‘the reasons why we perform decontamination’. The first priority, highlighted by delegates, included: the need to ‘protect patients from disease or death’ – healthcare-associated infection may be transmitted from an unsterilised or improperly disinfected instrument. Additionally, failure of the instrument may lead to an unsuccessful procedure – such as an endoscopic stent or hip replacement – failing.